Yanks thinking big?

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton likely will command many more dollars than the Yankees would be willing to pay.

Though it’s an extreme long shot proposition, the Yankees have done some vetting on free agent outfielder Josh Hamilton – whose potent bat comes with a troubled past and a high salary demand.

But if the Rangers are able to lock up top free agent starter Zack Greinke, that might dull Texas’ appetite for another major signing. And that could conceivably put the Yankees in play for Hamilton, according to a USA Today report Friday that said the club had done its due diligence on the lefty slugger.

SHAGGING FLIES: The Yankees avoided arbitration with outfielder Brett Gardner, who agreed on a one-year, $2.85 million deal.

The Yankees have $52 million coming off the books next year tied to four players, including center fielder Curtis Granderson. But they’ve shown no willingness to extend a multi-year offer in what general manager Brian Cashman perceives as a very lackluster free agent market – a strategy tied to getting under the luxury tax threshold by 2014.

Veteran corner infielder Kevin Youkilis is weighing a one-year, $12 million offer from the Yankees and a reported two-year, $18 million offer from the Cleveland Indians, who also are viewed as the front-runners for free agent outfielder Nick Swisher.

Swisher has been tied to interest from the Mariners, as has Hamilton. The Red Sox could still be in play for Hamilton, whose past history with drugs and alcohol may make him a questionable fit for a big-city team.

TAKING GROUNDERS: The Yankees announced utility man Jayson Nix had cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, giving them another potential part-time third baseman to fill in for Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod’s impending hip surgery is likely to keep him out until July. Today, Rodriguez will make an appearance at the Boys & Girls Club in Miami.